In the win over USC, Notre Dame completely dominated the running game. Success in this area of the game often relies on the ability of a team’s offensive line. As head coach Marcus Freeman said after the game, “You’re not rushing for those types of yards unless you got O-linemen blocking.”
Unfortunately for the Irish, the offensive line recently took a big hit as junior Ashton Craig was ruled out for the season with a knee injury. After losing one of the best linemen in the nation, Notre Dame needed someone who could step up to the challenge of filling that role. The player who would take on that responsibility is Joe Otting, a sophomore center.
Otting faced a monumental challenge, as his first collegiate start would come in an intense rivalry game with playoff implications on the line. Even in the face of adversity, Otting did not shy away, instead stepping up to be a crucial piece in Notre Dame’s success on the ground. Freeman noted the importance of the offensive line to the team’s success, stating, “That’s our foundation.”
Running behind the Otting-anchored offensive line, the Irish running backs accumulated over 300 yards rushing in the game. Junior running back Jeremiyah Love put up one of the best stat lines in program history with 228 rushing yards, the sixth highest tally for a game in Notre Dame history.
After his historic performance, Love gave credit to his team, saying, “I wouldn’t have that performance without them, you know, my O-line, without CJ, without the receivers blocking.” He further focused on Otting’s first start, commenting, “One man goes down, next man goes up, and he was ready for his opportunity.”
In his first year with the Irish, Otting was redshirted. He would make his debut in the following season against Purdue and would see playing time in a total of seven games throughout the season. Finally, this year, in his redshirt sophomore season, he would receive a starting opportunity. Freeman attributed his success to consistent work and improvement.
“Delayed gratification. He was ready for his opportunity because he worked every day in practice. He didn’t know when the opportunity was going to come and he was ready for it,” he said.
Although the efforts of players like Otting are only seen on game days, behind the scenes, there is a constant workload that goes into seeing results. It is the tireless preparation behind the scenes, long hours in the weight room, countless reps at practice, and film study that set the stage for such a moment.
“You can’t wait for your opportunity. You have to work, you have to work, and you have to work and maybe you get this opportunity. Maybe. Maybe you don’t. There is guys that work their tail off in that locker room and they don’t get an opportunity to get on the field.” Freeman said.
Consistent work and effort lead to results. “At some point your hard work will be rewarded and for Joe it was today,” Freeman noted. Otting was able to see his work pay off against USC, and he will be a crucial part of the offense as the Irish finish out the season.
A 0-2 start led to questions about Notre Dame’s future in the College Football Playoff, but after winning five straight, reaching the postseason seems to be the bare minimum expected for the season. The Irish will have some time off before their next game, a matchup at Boston College on Nov. 1.